Over a third of American workers would consider quitting if their CEO’s politics don’t align with their own

Emma BurleighBy Emma BurleighReporter, Success
Emma BurleighReporter, Success

    Emma Burleigh is a reporter at Fortune, covering success, careers, entrepreneurship, and personal finance. Before joining the Success desk, she co-authored Fortune’s CHRO Daily newsletter, extensively covering the workplace and the future of jobs. Emma has also written for publications including the Observer and The China Project, publishing long-form stories on culture, entertainment, and geopolitics. She has a joint-master’s degree from New York University in Global Journalism and East Asian Studies.

    Thumbs up and thumbs down in political party colors.
    Political conflict in the workplace is shaping up to be a big issue in election year 2024.
    Getty Images

    Good morning!

    Politics play a huge part in our lives, but should we bring our beliefs into the workplace? It’s a big question for corporate leaders this year—and for good reason. 

    About 36% of U.S. workers say they would consider leaving their jobs if their CEO expressed political views they don’t agree with, according to a March survey from job search platform Indeed, conducted in partnership with the Harris Poll. That figure is even higher among younger employees, with 46% of 18 to 34 year olds, and 44% of 35 to 44 year olds saying they would leave if their chief executive’s views conflicted with their own.

    “We spend a lot of our life at work, and politics is a very personal part of our life,” Kyle M.K., talent strategy advisor for Indeed, tells Fortune. “People wanting to separate from those that they would consider to be unhealthy, or views that what they would consider to be unhealthy or toxic, doesn’t surprise me.”

    Political conversations seem to be a fact of workplace life, despite how awkward they can be. Around 43% of U.S. workers have heard colleagues talking about politics in the office, according to the survey. But 56% of employees say talking politics in meetings makes them uncomfortable—a number that climbs to 62% for women. And nearly one in five employees admit to avoiding coworkers with different political sensibilities. 

    This discomfort can lead to serious workplace disruptions—four out of 10 U.S. employees say politics have affected team morale, and that number grows even higher for younger workers.

    Employers have to navigate the upcoming election with the utmost care. HR experts previously told my colleague Paige McGlauflin that when it comes to politics, companies should create a consistent company policy, train middle managers how to handle potential conflict, and set clear expectations around social media use. They also advised executives to be aware of how much weight their words really carry for employees.

    But M.K. believes business leaders shouldn’t avoid the topic altogether. He advises discussing larger issues rather than specific politicians, and proceeding with the company’s values and mission in mind. 

    “A culture is really what makes or breaks a thriving work environment for each individual,” says M.K. “So leaders should be a little bit open to having these discussions and talking about their politics. Because we can’t ignore it.”

    Emma Burleigh
    emma.burleigh@fortune.com

    Around the Table

    A round-up of the most important HR headlines.

    Outdoors retailer REI is known for its progressive stance on various issues, but that's being tested as workers organize and protest in front of corporate offices. HuffPost

    Amazon put a massive amount of employees on performance improvement plans, while the company continued to lay off a record number of workers. Business Insider

    Target is doubling its bonuses for salaried employees this year. But that doesn't apply to hourly employees or senior executives. Bloomberg

    Watercooler

    Everything you need to know from Fortune.

    Slice of life. Gen Z employees are coming into the office, and loving it. —Jasmine Li

    Piloting the new normal. France is testing out a four-day work week among select companies, but the program is targeted towards divorced parents sharing child custody. —Prarthana Prakash 

    Self-aware bankers. The average Wall Street workers’ bonus took a tumble down to $176,500—as companies take a more “cautious” stance on compensation. —AP

    This is the web version of CHRO Daily, a newsletter focusing on helping HR executives navigate the needs of the workplace. Sign up to get it delivered free to your inbox.